Spring arch-support for shoes.



No. 892,888. PATENTE) JUNE so, 1908. A. W. WALKER.

SPRING ARCH SUPPORT POR SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.5.1907.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l. '1. 2%

...unnuuuu J e .5y /1/5 Afro/#Nek PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908.

A. W. WALKER. ARCH SUPPORT FOR AHPLIGATION FILED SEPT.

SHOES. 5,1907.

SPRINQr l/V/ r/v-.SSES I 9.' riz.

sections ol the spring shown in Fig. 2.

UNITE 'itltlt-llif ALEXANDER W. WALKER, GF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETIW.

SPRING- ARCH-SUPPORT EGR SHOES.

No. 892,386. l

Spedcaton of Le tters Patent.

Patented .Tune 3G, 1908.

Application tiled September 5, 1907. Seriai No. BBABV.

This invention relates `to spring arch supports for shoes.

More particularbr it relates te sorings inserted in the soles of boots or shoes orstiilening the arch and for retaining and supporting the shank ot' the shoe in proper torni, to suit the needs ol the wearer tl'n'oughout vthe lite of the shoe.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a composite arch support having an elastic ilexihihty more accurately adapted than previous devices to thc assist-ance oli' the human foot in the act oi walking and to its support when standing. 'lhese objects are ecom )lished hy the device hereinafter' described and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l represents part ol' a shoe in side elevation and in section, equipped with a composite spring embodying the invention. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the spring re resented in F ig. 1. `Fig. 23 represents a side elevation of the same spint; insertion when flexed as in the act ot' wal ting, so1newhat enlarged. Fig. Llli/s a pian oi one oi' the Fig() is a side elevation of a diil'erent form ol' the s ning in section, enlarged.. Fig. (i is a side elevation ot' the same section, expanded, with the ex )ansion somewhat exaggerated. Fig. 7isa i anot' a detail of the form shown in'F 5 and 6.

`Referring to the drawings: ln Fig. l, l,

' represents the inner sole and 2 the outer sole of a shoe. The spring embodying the pri-.sent invention is set between them. As shown moreK clearly in Fig. 2, this spring comprises a dplurality of thin spring stool )lates marke respectively 3, 4, 5, 6 and l0. vlhe sha e of the successive sections is shown best in ig. 3 at 4 or 5. Such a section has a tongue 4 which is struck irene the material comprising the plate and is set out shghtl from the surface thereof. At the end of this tonfue a rivet 4 attaches it to the next plate 5 Wliichin turn has a tongue 5 and a rivet 5 attaching it to plate 6. In siinilarinanner the plate 3 has a tongue 3 attached. by a rivet 3 to plato si. Eae`. successive plate laps its predecessor a little, and the toneue joining it thereto runs in what may he called a reverse direction from the end ol the plate.

ln Fig. 3, the tongue of the shank plate 3 is represented. as stillened by an additional plaie '7, an-.l these two plates are covered hy a plate S which is riveted to the whole at 8^. .iwo small washers S are strung on this, al"

lowing the tongue 3 and its attached parts to have a limited up and down playA A. convenient shape for the stif'l'einng spring 7 is shown hy the dotted line in Fig. i?, and part ol' this lino also outlines the shape ol' the tongue 3. At the .rear end el' shank plate 3, is a similar tongue 9 fastened hy a .rivet 9 to a plate ltr-which has holeI 'il for pz of a screw or nail in the heel of' the shoe. Fig. 3 represents the torni this composite sp1-nig might lake ilt incasod in the shoe as represented in Fig. l, when the wearer is in the act ol` taking a lorward step with tac other ifoot. At that time thev persons weight rests upon the ball el" tho loot, the heel is raised from the ground and the arch ol the loot is sustained by the tension of ligaments connecting the lrontand hack portions of the arch. those circumstances it is desirable to have the solo ol" the shoe press gently upward and. sustain the arch. vlll the` solo be rigid the ellort ol' rising upon. the hall of the foot comes wholly I.ipon the arch of the foot and its ligaments; hut with the composite spring shown here the heel is assisted in rising and apart of the stress is borne by theI spring, which tends to expand elastieally from its compressed condition when the wearer's weight rests with his foot ilat upon the ground. This is caused hy the elasticity of the various tongues ol spring metal. ,'.lhcse are set somewhat out from tho hotly ol the plates. When the weight ol' the wearer is upon. thorn they aro pressed toward the plates as shown in Fig. l, hut when relieved ol this weieht, and espe-- cially when tho heel is raised, tie'tue romaining down, they tend to spring int-o their nor mal positions as shown in Fig. 3.

lt is not necessary to have as many seetions ol' the spring as are shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. A form ol' the invention is shown in Fig. 5, in which tl loro is one toe and one heel section in addition to the shank iortion. The construction is also somewhat dill'crent in that igure. instead of the tongues being integral with their adjacent plates they are Under lll) separate spring pieces riveted t `recess to receive 'the tongue when the s tendue oi i8.

si each plate having a hole punched over i s: tongue to allow play rooin therefor, thus forming a 'De' is compressed.y In Fig. 5, another feature oi the invention is also shown, a reinforcing s ring 12, fastened on the under of s ank plate i3 and onder lapping the edge of the toe section 14. This stilens the elastic support ofthe rear edge of this toe section and adds itsefiect to the eiieot oi the spring ln lili'e inaiiiier the rear part of t `s plate l2 reinforces tongue i3. This plate l2, therefore, inalies it possible in the commercial manufacture of' springs oinoodying the invention to iii-alie the niain portions ot s ring steel of uniiiorin flexibility, an yet, to produce sprin .i'liose total elastic eect is of any desired degree ci stillness by the selection et suitable reinforcing plates 12, choosing` these plates aoeoi to the deA gree of stiffness desired, or omitting the plate 12 altogether if desired. i

ln both types of the spring, 'plate 8 is represented covering the topniost plate 3 or la. This thin plate may have a reinforcing effect upon that plate it desired. The plates may loe made of very thin, hgh t, nieta The invention is not limited to the particular shape of plates and tongues shown and the construction may be varied in other pas ticolare Without departing from the spirit i and scope oi the invention.

l claim: y

l. ln eoinoination with a shoe, a composite spring within the sole thereof, comprisi g a lpl.totality of plates, and spring strips intervening between adjacent plates and joining; tliein..

2. The combination of a plurality of overlapping thin plates with an elastic strip at the lap, said strip joining the end portions ot the plates which lap each other.

3. The combination of a plurality of overlapping tliiii plates with an elastic strip fast to both plates which lap; there being a recess in one ot' these plates adapted to receive said strip.

4.' The combination of a plurality of overlapping thin plates with an elastic strip at the lap, said strip joining the end portions ol" the plates which lap each other, and a reinforcing spring ica-st on one of the plates and lapping outside the i'einote end of said strip.-

5. In combination with a shoe, a eoinposite springwithin the sole thereof comprising a plurality of plates, and springs interveningbetween adjacent plates normally expandingl the thickness of the ooinposite structure.

ln testimony whereof l hereto aiiix my signature, in presence of two ,vitiiesses.

ALEXANDER W. WALKER. "Witnesses EVERETT E. KENT, Ensim G. Feines. 

